This period of the year does not really motivate to have a ride, the days are getting shorter and the weather is very… very wet and cold. So we are trying with this small article to put
new hearth into our readers. Please see some of the specifications of these three new products. Continuer la lecture →

This was one of the most special bike displayed at the Interbike Expo in the United States: a Parlee frame and very high end components coming from the most prestigious manufacturers such
as Ax-Lightness, Extralite, DT Swiss, Sram Red, PowerArms, etc. The machine was assembled in Tucson by Fair Wheel
Bikes. Until this point, there is nothing really exciting. Now, if add a huge amount of custom hand paint on almost every single component, you get something a far more spectacular
bike.

The very first clincher Lightweight wheels are under production. With only a couple of wheelset per week, they are sparingly delivered. Our german colleague Light-bikes.de is currently
testing a set of these hoops weighting exactly 1205g on the scale. The pressure limit is 8 bars and the price is 3400 euros. Carbon-Sports also made the rear rim asymetric to compensate the
stiffness drop due to the clincher construction.

The Di2 electronic groupset caused a stir at the Eurobike Expo, then at the Interbike fair trade too. Nevertheless, we are not really convinced an electric groupset can be useful for a road
bike… It should be more appropriated to time-trial use.
Shimano just did them: the brake levers and the bars’ extensions shifters receive the commands to switch cogs quickly. It will probably save some time during the time-trials!
127g the set of brake lever, and 103g the set of time trial bar extensions.

Shimano is having punctures issues with the 7850 C24CL and C50CL wheels. Indeed they are coming with plugs instead of a standard rim tape to save weight, but those small components are
causing punctures of some models.
The only solution Shimano proposes, is to remove the plugs, then install a rim tape.

Miscellaneous:
* A wheelbag is provided with a rim
* A pair of Corima cork brake pads is provided
* The valve extenders are provided
* The stickers are provided non-stuck
* The clincher version is 365 euros.

This is our final article about this event.
We would not like to forgive any important manufacturer pushing more or less the enveloppe so here they are.
Pictures thanks to Rasmus T. Nielsen. Gallery Interbike 2008

TAG Wheels

TAG wheels makes very special 3 and 5 spokes wheels. They have a composite structure bringing extreme strength and durability. At almost 2100g the wheelset, there only seems to have MTB
compatible versions, but the structure is worth a look as an all integrated wheel.
Hubs internals are coming from DT Swiss and Disc compatible versions are offered.

With its superb hubs, Cane Creek wheels confirm their beauty superiority. Although every manufacturers want lighter, stiffer, faster, Cane Creek focuses on durability, beauty and style.
We also couldn’t resist to show the gorgeous bike featured on this stand…

Although the 2008 range was pretty good, Reynolds still keeps up the work and lighten further its wheels.
Two rims depth are offered in the Competition range: 46 and 32mm known as the DV46 and the MV32. The two now comes with a lightened rim using an ultralight (UL) and high modulus (HM)
unidirectionnal carbon fibre and upgraded hybrid ceramic bearings in their DT Swiss 240s hubs.
The spokings are 20 DT Aerolite radial spokes front, and 24 radial/2x crossed spokes rear. The rear wheels still come with differenciated spokes – thicker and stiffer on the weaker drive
side – for balanced stiffness.
According to Reynolds, the UL fibres help to make the braking smoother and provides 17% higher braking performances.

The DV46 T UL weights a very nice 1040g, while the clincher version comes at a 1405g.
The shallower version, MV32 is exactly 1000g, and 1325g for the clincher version.

In the Performance + range, the DV3K C and tubular versions comes in a heavier, cheaper and less performant 3K fiber. Their hubs are also standard DT Swiss 240s, with steel bearings.
Weights are still good: 1245g in tubular version, and 1500g in clinchers.

Bicycle manufacturer Easton upgrades its top range hand built wheels with the R4SL hub. It has lightened internals and hybrid ceramic bearings saving 36g over the normal R4 hubs.
The aluminium rims of the EA90 SLX wheels are lighter and better too thanks to a new extrusion.

Hed still focused on aerodynamic. Steve claims wider rims come with lower drag as long as the rim or disc shape is well designed. He certainly is right, and his whole wheel range now have
23mm wide rims.
More informations on Cyclingnews

Since we were obviously not present at Interbike show, we needed to rely on someone to collect the informations and the pictures from Las Vegas.
Rely on someone? Well, the man is a cycling passionnated person. He’s a top photographer, at least from our point of view, because every pictures he took seemed to be taken with the little
extra that makes the difference with a standard picture, Rasmus T. Nielsen did a great job with a very cool gallery on the Interbike 2008.
If you wish to see every pictures immediatly, visit the link here: Interbike 2008. If you need some informations, please read
below.

Industry Nine

They certainly make the most beautiful bicycle wheels of the planet. They have aluminium anodized hubs, aluminium anodized spokes screwed onto the hub, a very loud and genius freewheel
system allowing more or less 60 engaging positions.
We wrote an article about these wheels two years ago (see HERE). The main disadvantage of the system of spokes screwed
onto the hub was that they had to use round spokes. They have sorted this issue out, and now offer bladed spokes too, which makes the wheels even better.
I9 uses several rim manufacturer such as Zipp, DTSwiss, Edge Composites LLC, Lew Racing, Velocity to quote a few.

Edge offers bicycle frame tubes, rims, and they are extending the line to seatposts and handlebars.
The advantage of Edge composites LLC, regarding the rims, is their molded spoke holes instead of drilled, which comes with big advantages such as the maximal spoke tension, the durability
and strength during the wheelbuild. This feature is not the only strength of Edge. They also have the advantage of using very high quality carbon, which comes also with reliability and
stiffness.
The seatpost is going to be available during spring 2009 in 27,2mm and 31,6mm. Price is not decided yet but it should come around US$300-400.
The handle bars will be available in just 6-8 weeks, it is 85mm reach, 144mm drop, and the sizes measured from center to center are 36-38-40-42-44 cm. It will cost US$350

Side notes
- EDGE Composites LLC is from USA. Do not be confused with the other Edge brands, mere taiwanese and cheap prooducts, which offer correct components, but definitely not high-end
performance products.
- Jason owner of Fairwheelbikes, famous shop based in Tucson worked during more than a year to get every components ready in time for this bike:

Mark Lynskey is probably one of the most experienced titanium frame manufacturer. The story began in 1986, when the first titanium frames were made. The company grew and Litespeed was
created in 1992. Since 2005, the end of ABG’s belonging, Mark is back to his original constructions.
A very special frame was unveiled this year. It has « twisted » tubes. We’re not sure about the use of this special looking tubing, but it probably comes with some higher stiffness.

Powertap is now well known for its power meter hubs. Saris found several great deals with big manufacturers such as Mavic, and its Cosmic Carbon Pro, Reynolds with options for power meters
wheels, Bontrager, etc…
New hubs without the carbon fibre are offered, they will probably be cheaper. Black versions of the hub were released too.

After M5, Zero Gravity, EE Cycle Works is releasing a very special looking aluminium brake. The brake looks like being function over form, without forgiving the low weight.
A review can already be found on FairWheelbikes forum: Fairwheelbikes.com :: EE brake review

Interbike is the North America’s largest bicycle trade event and show takes place in Las Vegas during 3 days from the 24th to the 26th of September. With over 1,000 of the top brands and
nearly 23,000 attendees from over 60 countries, it is similar to the Eurobike in Europe.
Several manufacturers did keep secret some of their newest products and unveil them at this event.
Ritchey

The giant american manufacturer is updating its wheel range with the Superlogic Carbon Road wheelset, featuring exclusive rims, made with uni-directional, 100 % high-modulus carbon
reinforced with boron. Made by Lew Racing using proprietary DEX-LCM molding process, they combine very light weight, exceptional strength, while being compliant rims.
Hubs are alloy cold forged, made by Ritchey: WCS V3 and V4. Spokes are Aerolite from DT Swiss, 20 front radial, 24 two times crossed rear. The wheelset is claimed to be sub1100g, at $US2800, including the WCS Ritchey quick releases.

Cervélo

Cervélo releases a newer version of the time trial/triathlon frame. The P4 is claimed to be the fastest ever made bicycle including the UCI legal and UCI illegal bikes. The fork is a custom
Cervélo design making easier the air flow transition with frame, the 570 ml water bottle is right above the bottom bracket and smoothly integrates the down tube, seat tube and bottom
bracket in a single aero form. The rear brake is integrated to the chainstays, thus lowering the air drag and being invisible, it is as powerful as a Dura-Ace caliper, yet being 30%
lighter.

Every single details can be read on Cervélo’s website, or on
"http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interbike-cervelos-new-p4-storck-gets-stiffer-18706" target="_blank">BikeRadar.

Already unveiled at the Eurobike, Rotor had the new seatpost visible here too. The SP1 seems cleverly thought to save weight without sacrificing the important reliability. It has an
ovalised interior and smaller diameter as the seatpost exits the seat tube until the head. It weights only 178g in a 27.2 x 350mm size.

The Agilis crank arms can receive an additionnal Quarq-compatible spider to be aware of the power the rider delivers.

Chris King is well known for its legendary life durable components. This year is an important year for the american manufacturer. Chris King finally releases a new bottom bracket which is
specifically designed for Shimano-compatible external type crank/bottom bracket systems. It features a grease injection tool allowing the bearing to be purged of existing grease and debris
and new run through.
It is available in a wide array of colors.

Chris King also was busy with new hubs: Single Speed road versions, thru axle 10mm and 12mm MTB versions, two 15mm thru axle front options.

Eurobike ’08 was really good. Since a few years, the trend was all about making lighter and lighter components, improving ergonomy, without sacrificing the reliability. It seems like the
limits have been reached with the current standards and the manufacturers needed to evoluate in a different manner.
The new trends are about making easier the cyclists’ tasks (i.e the new Shimano electric), and more than all, making the bicycles as beautiful as possible. A lot of manufacturers tend to
offer more colors, more custom components and that’s a very good thing.

From the hundreds booth, only a couple of bikes were over the pack and we thought they deserved a feature. From these couple of bikes, we only selected two: Stefan Behrens’ Parlee, and
Alejandro Valverde’s Pinarello Prince.

Carbon-Sports, Stefan Behrens’ Parlee

Stefan Behrens had his custom Parlee repainted. The bike is special in several ways, it is entirely airbrushed: the frame of course, but every single components are painted in
a blood system theme! The crankset actually is the hearth of the bike, the veins are running on each part of the bike and even end up on the brake pad holders!
The amount of work involved here is phenomenal and Stefan could even not say how many hours were necessary by the airbrusher to make the whole bike.
The bike is probably the one which required the most work.
Enjoy the pictures.

Alejandro’s Pinarello Prince

Spanish champion Valverde‘s bike was featured on Pinarello‘s stand. Custom painted Prince frame to the spanish colors, it also seemed to involve a high amount of work: painted
bar/stem combo, painted brakes, Alejandro’s signature, well matched colors, it was the nicest Pinarello of the booth.

The last fall, we featured the Edge Composites rims made in USA (see here). Since this article,
the company based in Ogden extended its rim range: the clincher rims are on the market since a few weeks, and the first flat section rims are being delivered.

« The finish is indeed raw, but keep in mind this is a performance product and we don’t want to paint them or anything that would add weight.«

Here they are, built with Extralite SX and SR hubs, and 20/24 DT Aerolite spokes. The wheelset is only 861g on the scale, which is not really an argument because a lot of
lightweight and bad wheels are hitting the market nowadays. Knowing the sturdiness of the Edge rims we are testing since a couple of months, to enlarge the incoming range, the
result is much more interesting.

These 1.24 rims only weight 215g for a depth of 24mm and a width of 21mm, in a triangular section.
The Edge rims finish, serie 1, is very rough, Jake Pantone explains this: « The finish is indeed raw, but keep in mind this is a performance product and we don’t want to
paint them or anything that would add weight.« The rims have an unidirectionnal carbon finish, which reminds the newest generation Shimano rims.

The serie number 2 of the Edge rims is differently finished and is stiffer. It is composed of 3K carbon fibre and a clear coat is applied in surface to make it visually perfect.
On the other side, the rims of the serie number 2 are 50g heavier.

The Edge range is now composed of three models: 24mm, 38mm, 68mm. The two last are coming in 1 and 2 version, and in clincher version too.

The rims have no spoke tension limit thanks to the molded spokes holes. So we could easily put 1150N of spoke tension on the drive side of the rear wheel. Basically, this is not
exceptional, but considering the extremely low weight of the components, it is much more exciting.
The spoking is radial front and rear non drive side, it helps saving weight, and increasing the lateral stiffness.

Would it be a versatile sub900g wheeset ? We will not claim it. The flat rim do not offer the best aerodynamics, and it is also the weakest of the serie: a deep rim has more material
to flex and resist to the impacts.
Finally, a flat rim needs longer, flexier spokes, so the wheel is also flexier where the lateral load is applied. But the rim also moves less between the brake pads.

The Edge Composites rims descend from the Lew racing fabrications. Several manufacturers did benefit of this construction: Reynolds, Shimano, Easton to quote the most
important. Velonews published an article some months ago about the two american manufacturers. Lew Racing accused Edge of copying a part of the manufacturing process:
"http://velonews.com/article/74786" target="_blank">read the article. The pursuits do not seem topical anymore but they reveal the technology the Edge rims beneficiate.

Well these 1.24 rims are under test. If the perform well, we will add them to the boutique.

This is probably one of the most integrated component of the Eurobike. Look definitely pushed the enveloppe with its Zed crankset.
Basically, this component is composed of a single piece of carbon, and a couple of metallic parts. Both arms and the bottom bracket/axle are integrated. Thus, the installation is extremely
easy, we just need to pass one arm through the frame, then lock it with a threaded cup.
It is compatible with both the standard and compact transmissions, the Trilobe adjustement makes the three most usual arm length easy to set, i.e. 170mm – 172,5mm – 175mm
Looks claims it reaches new standards of stiffness, and stiffness to weight ratios.

Xentis

Xentis is releasing a new range of conventionnal wheels. They are based on DTSwiss hubs, and DT Aerolite spokes, and the rims are using a twill carbon weave.
Three rim depth are offered, the three both in clincher and tubular. 25mm, 42mm, 58mm respectively for 1699, 1799, 1899 euros the wheelsets. The weights of the tubular versions are 1050g,
1195g, 1395g, and the clincher versions are 1250g, 1335g, 1535g.
Some prototypes were exposed, they used Tune blue hubs, with a triplet rear pattern.

Deda

Deda Elementi has got some new components for 2009. The range of stems/bars/seatposts is really getting very big and more than all, more interesting than ever.

The Presa is the new full carbon bar. It features extremely short drops (128mm), short reach (77mm). Available in 42-44-46cm from outside to outside. The weight is about 209g. It
features the RHM Rapid Hand Movement concept of Deda, to improve the quick changes of handle position. The Presa is coming in an alloy version too: it is named the Fluida, which is
coming in white and black.
Second, the Nuova Sfida is an aluminium bar wrapped of carbon. It features the RHM too, so the shape is shallow: 75mm reach, 128mm drop. The weight is about 308g.
The Zero100 existed only as a stem, the corresponding handlebar is released: strong 7075T6 triple butted alloy. 40-42-44-46mmcm, drop 128mm, reach 75mm, weight 242g.
Finally, the Fast Black 2 is a time trial aerobar weighting 340g.

Stronglight

The Helion crankset was presented. Here are the real pictures of the crakset:
You can find more informations in the article we published some weeks ago: HERE.

Eurobike, second part on the bike component we appreciate the most, i.e. the wheels.

Lightweight

First, Lightweight the famous wheel manufacturer, updates, or releases new components:
- the ventoux wheels are generation 3, they receive the full carbon spokes coming with 30% more stiffness
- the Standard generation 3 rear wheels are available with 24 rear spokes for the most extreme lateral stiffness. Lightweight wanted to beat Mavic with its CCU.
- the clincher wheels are really available, pressure limit 8 bars, CarbonSports tested the brake track intensively at a well known university in Germany, and needed about 26 wheelsets
that failed to get the perfect reliability, and strength.
- the rear derailleur is fully available from this Eurobike
- NEW QUICK RELEASES made out of titanium/aluminium. They weight 32g and are limited to a very high rider weight: 120kg. Carbon-Sports is very confident in the design. 89 euros per
set.
- Indivudual designs are available for the public. They cost from 250 euros per wheelset beside the normal price of the wheels, to much higher prices. It depends on the work involved
into the airbrush.
- Last but not least, Carbon-Sports offers an outstanding replacement program: if you add 10% of the wheels cost, you have a « No question asked » replacement during 3 years old!

Stefan, CEO of Carbon-Sports worked on an amazing project, based onto airbrush, have a look at it:

DT Swiss

DT updates its spoke and hub line. Most of the new stuffs are for MTB, but the road range is concerned too. First the Aerolite spokes are available in white, as well as the 240s hubs.

Tune

We believed Tune pushed the enveloppe quite much with the Mag130 weighting only 137g. It looks like it is not the only thing, the Mag110 was presented as a prototype too! The rear hub is
112g, sacry, right?
The Mag130 is for sale, and will be available the next summer. It costs 949 euros, equipped of full ceramic bearings.
Well, the white hubs are available too, a new seatpost was presented, as well as new super light skewers and quick releases, based on a carbon axle, bonded aluminium threads, carbon
levers.

THM

Thm definitely has good ideas. The new aero Scapula has a brake integrated. It seems pretty powerful and we are confident into this.

Zipp

Zipp improves its rear wheel with a Mavic like spoking: radial on the drive side, and crossed on the other side. The 255 rims have now there nipples external.
Every wheels receive this upgrade, being Zipp, Flaspoint or Sram.
Several very special looking wheels were presented too.
A new aero crankset, the Vuma Aero was visible too, it is claimed to be reaching new standards of stiffness, while being faster than any competitor.
A new lighter and aero stem was unveiled too. It features inversed bolts, and a dimpled cap.

SRAM

The merge with Zipp allowed SRAM to make wheels. They are pretty similar to Flashpoint Zipp wheels but with different hubs.